Hinged cover for beverage reservoir

Abstract

A combination coffee-making and dispensing machine which has a beverage reservoir which is retained in a cabinet. The reservoir is provided with a cover to reduce evaporation. The cover is hinged to the cabinet in a way that permits it to be tilted and lifted off the reservoir and remain in the cabinet when the reservoir is removed. The cover can be readily lowered in place on the reservoir when the latter is re-positioned in the cabinet.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. In a coffee-making and dispensing machine having a front side providing access to a brewing funnel, reservoir and dispensing spout and wherein coffee discharges by gravity from said brewing funnel into said reservoir from which increments of coffee are discharged by gravity to said dispensing spout located toward the bottom of said front access side, said reservoir being in a generally level position when said machine is in service and being insertable into and removable from the machine through said front side when the front end of said reservoir is tilted up; a cover for said reservoir having an opening through which coffee discharges into said reservoir from said brewing funnel and a hinge mechanism for said cover which allows said cover to be simultaneously tilted upwardly in said front side and lifted off said reservoir while said reservoir remains in its said generally horizontal position;   said hinge mechanism being mounted on a rigid structural part of said machine extending upwardly along the rear end of said reservoir and said hinge mechanism comprising, at least one rigid cantilever member secured at its proximal cantilever end to said structural part at a level above a rear lip of said reservoir and said cantilever member having on its distal end a downwardly projecting flange portion having a lower edge, at least one tension spring having one end secured to said structural part at a level above the bottom of said proximal cantilever end of said cantilever member and having its other end secured to the top of said cover adjacent the back edge thereof, said spring providing sufficient tension to cause the top side of the rear margin of said cover to engage said lower edge of said flange portion when the front end of said cover is lifted off said reservoir and said cover is pulled toward said front side so as to permit insertion and removal of said reservoir.   
     
     
       2. In the coffee making machine of claim 1, a plurality of said rigid cantilever members and a plurality of said tension springs. 
     
     
       3. In the coffee making machine of claim 1, an upstanding rib extending along the back edge of said cover, each said rigid cantilever member having a downwardly facing edge at the base of its said proximal end juxtaposed to said structural part, and wherein the top of said rib engages said downwardly facing edge when said cover is in its horizontal closed position on said reservoir. 
     
     
       4. In the coffee making machine of claim 3, a gasket comprised between said cover and the lip of said reservoir when said cover is in its closed position, the compression being provided at least in part by said engagement between the top of said rib and said downwardly facing edge. 
     
     
       5. In the coffee making machine of claim 1, said structural part being a vertical wall, and each said rigid cantilever member being integrally formed of sheet material and comprising a vertical attaching section attached to said wall, an upwardly inclined cantilever section connected to the bottom of said vertical attaching section, and a downwardly projecting flange section at the distal end of said cantilever section. 
     
     
       6. In the coffee making machine of claim 1, a compartment for said reservoir, and an outwardly opening door in said front side for opening and closing said compartment, interengaging means interconnecting said door and said reservoir cover when said door is closed and said cover is closed on said reservoir, and locking means for said interengaging means for preventing said door from being opened and said cover from being raised. 
     
     
       7. In the coffee making machine called for in claim 6, said interengaging means comprising a downwardly extending flange on the outer front edge of said cover which fits over the top edge of said door, and said locking means is carried by one of said cover and said door and has a latch which has locking engagement with the other of said cover and door.